Monitoring of a Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Control Programme in Plateau and Bauchi State, Nigeria, Using Antigen Elisa and Parasitological Techniques

Abstract

Between July 1994 and January 1995 a total of 1153 samples were collected from cattle in Plateau of and Bauchi State, Nigeria, and analysed for the presence of trypanosome infections using parasitolosical (Buffy Coat Technique [BCT] and blood film smears)and serological techniques (Ag. ELISA). A simple random sampling technique was employed. Tsetse flies and other insects were trapped during the same period using NITSE and biconical traps. Twenty two tsetse flies (6Glossina p. palpalis, 3 G. longipalpis and 13 G. tachiniodes) were caught, identified and dissected to check for trypanosomal infections. The results obtained using parasitological techniques showed and average prevalence rate in the two states surveyed of 3.4%. The antigen-capture ELISA technique (Ag.ELISA) was used to analyse 280 serum samples which were negative for trypanosomes when checked by BCT. of these samples none were positive for T. congolense and 4(1.4%) were detected positive for T. brucei. A subset of 120 samples was analysed for the presence of T.vivax and 3(2.5%) were found to be positive. The relative specificity of the Ag-ELISA for T. brucei, T. vivax was 98.5%, 100% and 97.5%, respectively.